After the expulsion of 1492, Sephardic Jews who settled in Morocco brought their Spanish with them. Over the centuries, living among Arabic and Berber speakers and drawing on their own Hebrew traditions, they turned it into a new language: Haketia. At its peak Haketia had 30,000 speakers. Fewer than 1,000 remain today, and this course gives you the chance to help document it.

Working with native speakers, you’ll learn the basics of language documentation, from linguistic fundamentals to fieldwork: how to record, transcribe, and analyze a living language. The course meets for six weekly 90-minute sessions on Zoom. 

All sessions are recorded, so you can attend live or follow along later.

Who this is for:

• Anyone interested in Sephardic history and Jewish languages
• Students of linguistics, anthropology, or Jewish studies who want fieldwork experience
• Anyone with Moroccan Jewish roots who wants to help preserve the language
• Alumni of our previous Language Keepers program

What you’ll leave with:

• An understanding of what sets Haketia apart from other forms of Judeo-Spanish
• Fieldwork skills you can apply to any endangered language
• A contribution to the permanent record of Haketia

Six Tuesdays: October 20, 27, and November 3, 10, 17, and 24, 4:00–5:30pm Pacific

Questions? Our FAQ covers registration, recordings of missed sessions, refunds, and financial assistance.